Prayer is an amazing topic. At times, it seems like we spend more time talking about prayer than the actual practice of praying.
I heard about a man who came to his wife one day with an urgent prayer request from his friend. The man says to his wife that his friend, Fred, called him to pray for his wife Carol and the kids because they were in a car accident.
The man’s wife says, “Is Carol okay? Are the kids okay?” To which the man says, “I don’t know. Fred just asked me to pray.” The man’s wife says, “Which hospital did they take Carol to? Were the other people in the car okay?” The husband replies, ‘I don’t know. Fred just asked me to pray.”
Have you been there? You receive a request from a friend to pray, and you spend the entire time analyzing the situation instead of getting on your knees and praying. I get it. I do the same. I want more details.
However, it may be best to stop and pray for the other person on the spot. Go ahead and get just enough information to offer a simple prayer.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
Of course, you might be intimidated to pray for someone in public. That’s okay as well. If you are interested in the ministry of prayer at Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS), I would suggest that you seek out your campus pastor about training in the Praying Hands Ministry program. Your campus pastor will offer a seminar so you can pray confidently with others when they bring you a prayer request. You won’t have to analyze the situation. You will be ready and engaged to pray.
Come and prepare to pray for others, and we will develop a culture of prayer at PHS.
About Campus Pastor John Cordova: I began serving at Lake Minnetonka Shores in February 2020, just before the Covid pandemic arrived. I fill the role of director of pastoral care, the greatest job ever. I live in Maple Grove with my wife of 40-plus years. We have raised three daughters, and they have given us three wonderful grandsons (hoping for a granddaughter in the future). If we are not with our grandkids, we spend our time socializing with our neighbors.
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian Ministry.
